Hasina
Encourage children to take to sports & games: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday stressed the need for promoting sports and games among the youth to groom up their mind and talents.
“The minds and talents of our children will flourish as much as we can spread sports and games among them. Their physical health will be developed further and their mind will be liberal,” she said.
The premier said this while opening the final round of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Game 2023 in the city.
The curtain of the week-long final round was lifted at Bangladesh Army Stadium in Banani after the successful conclusion of the inter-upazila and inter-district phases, held from January 02 to 22, 2023.
Hasina said the sports and games create a competitive attitude among the youth which will finally help them gain further enrichment and competence in sports, games and every case of their lives.
She said this is why her government paid special attention to sports and games immediately after coming to power.
The PM said the AL government introduced inter-school, inter-college, inter-university competitions. “So, sports and games in our country are getting enriched enough. We're able to take part in different international sports competitions,” she added.
She said her government wants to increase the participation of Bangladeshis athletes in various international competitions in a larger way by creating skilled players alongside developing the socio-economic condition of Bangladesh.
Read more: Doing our best to keep economy going amid global recession: PM Hasina
“Today our goal is to build a smart Bangladesh,” she said, expressing hope that the Smart Bangladesh would create smart players so that Bangladesh can achieve the qualification to attend any global competition.
Recalling the contribution of her family members particularly Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Hasina described Kamal as a versatile person. Kamal was simultaneously involved in cricket, football, hockey and other different sports.
She said he (Sheikh Kamal) founded Abahani Krira Chakra and he took initiative to engage the young generation in sports and games in a larger way.
“His talents are imprinted in every field. He introduced the modern football game here, founding Abahani Krira Chakra,” she said.
Hasina said this youth game will add a new dimension as a platform to find out future sports stars.
Some 4000 (Under-17) promising athletes are taking part in the final round of the mega sports event for the 193 gold, 193 silver and 287 bronze.
Meanwhile, both the men's and women's football competitions of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games 2023 held on the opening day of the meet at two city separate venues in the capital.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Zahid Ahsan Russel and President of Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed spoke at the opening ceremony while BOA General Secretary Syed Shahed Reza delivered the welcome speech.
BOA organised the Youth Games for the first time in 2018. The main motto of the Games was to select future players for national teams in various disciplines and to groom the talents of young athletes.
PM Hasina opens final phase of Sheikh Kamal Youth Games
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday inaugurated the final round of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games 2023 in the capital.
The curtain of the week-long final round was lifted at Bangladesh Army Stadium in Banani after the successful conclusion of the inter-upazila and inter-district phases, held from January 02 to 22, 2023.
Some 4,000 (Under-17) promising athletes are taking part in the final round of the meet for the 193 gold, 193 silver and 287 bronze. They are competing under 24 disciplines including individual and team in the second edition of sports event.
Meanwhile, both the men's and women's football competitions of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games 2023 held on the opening day of the meet at two city separate venues in the capital.
Read more: Doing our best to keep economy going amid global recession: PM Hasina
Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) organised the Youth Games for the first time in 2018. The main motto of the Games was to select future players for national teams in various disciplines and to groom the talents of young athletes.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Zahid Ahsan Russel and BOA President General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed spoke at the opening ceremony, while BOA General Secretary Syed Shahed Reza delivered the welcome speech.
Help us in relocating Rohingyas to Bhasan Char: PM Hasina urges UN
Dhaka, Feb 20 (UNB)- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged the United Nations to help Bangladesh in relocating Rohingyas to Bhashan Char island.She made the plea while UN resident coordinator Gwyn Lewis called on her at her official residence, Ganabhaban.PM’s Speech Writer M Nazrul Islam told reporters that the prime minister mentioned that over one million Myanmar nationals, Rohingyas, are now a big burden for Bangladesh.“Their return to their homeland soon is uncertain, so I am requesting the UN to help Bangladesh relocate the Rohingyas to Bhashan Char,” she said.In this connection, she mentioned that the island has been organised and developed to provide better living condition for the Myanmar nationals.She said that it has a cyclone shelter, employment opportunities on limited scale and education facilities for the children in their mother language. Hasina said that the Rohingyas who are living in camps in Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar have already outnumbered the local people.“They have created problems for the living and livelihoods of the local Bangladesh people,” she said.She also said that some of the Rohingyas are involved in various types of anti-social activities like human and drug trafficking, internal conflicts and militant activities.“In this situation, as their scope to return to their homeland soon is uncertain, their living standard will be upgraded if they relocate on Bhashan Char island where they will get better environment to live,” she said.
The PM said that forcibly displaced Rohingyas are living in an inhumane condition in Cox’s Bazar amid uncertainty about their repatriation soon.
Read more: PM Hasina slams move to undermine Bangabandhu’s role in Language MovementBangladesh has so far moved about 30,000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char to ease crowding in the camps in Cox's Bazar.The Rohingyas, the minority Muslims in Myanmar, fled to neighbouring Bangladesh mostly in 2017 to escape killings, arson and rape unleashed by the country's military junta.Diplomatic efforts at safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland have so far failed.
The issues of UN-set MDGs and SDGs were also discussed during the meeting.
PM Hasina said that she herself attended the events during the adoption of the agenda of MDGs and SDGs where Bangladesh played a proper role. She said that necessary measures have been taken to implement SDGs and issues relating to Bangladesh have been incorporated in the country’s five-year and perspective plans.Pointing out a number of challenges in implementing the SDGs due to Ukraine-Russia war followed by sanctions and counter-sanctions, the prime minister said that the war after the Covid-19 pandemic situation has created some obstacles.But the government has been working to implement the SDGs, she said.She said the government has been continuing with the provision of free books, stipends and scholarships to students for promotion of education. School feeding programmers have also been introduced.Talking about women empowerment, she said that the present government has ensured female representatives on the local government bodies.Besides, job opportunities have also been created for the female to attract them to education, she said.She said that as a result now the parents are more interested to send their daughters to educational institutions.In this regard, the PM said that girls are now outnumbering the boys in schools, while almost cent percent enrolment has been achieved in the country.During the meeting, the UN resident coordinator highly appreciated Bangladesh’s stunning progress and achievements in socio-economic front as well as in women’s empowerment, girl’s education, and in achieving MDGs and SDGs, spokesperson Nazrul said.Gwyn Lewis assured that the UN will remain beside Bangladesh in the days ahead in overcoming various challenges like it had been in the past.
About child labor situation in the country Hasina said there is no such case in formal sectors as it has been almost abolished although there might be some in informal areas.
Referring to the climate change, the prime minister said that her government has undertaken adaptation and mitigation programmers to face its adverse impact and has constructed cyclone tolerant houses as well as created green belts along the coastal areas.
About measures to fight climate change the PM said they have taken adaptation and mitigation programme for making Bangladesh climate change resistant.
She said Bangladesh is building climate resistant houses and green belt along the coastal areas as measures to fight the climate change impacts.
She said Bangladesh set up a Climate Trust Fund with its own finance.
She however expressed dissatisfaction over the climate promises made by the rich nations.
"The rich countries are giving promises, but they are not complying with those," she said.
The Prime Minister and UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh spoke of the important cooperation between the UN and Bangladesh in responding to climate-related disasters and economic volatility, according to UN office in Dhaka.
They reaffirmed commitments to strengthen the UN-Bangladesh partnership on the Rohingya refugee response, despite funding shortages that forced cuts in food assistance for Rohingya refugees living in camps in Cox’s Bazar.
They also exchanged views on Bangladesh's economic growth ahead of the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in Doha, Qatar, on 5-9 March.
PM launches operation of 3 newly built rail lines on Rooppur, Shasidal and Joydebpur routes
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday inaugurated simultaneous operation of trains on three newly built rail lines to ease the transportation of passengers and cargo on the Rooppur, Shasidal and Joydebpur routes.
She inaugurated the 69.20 km lines virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.
The 11-km-long rail line for Rooppur has been constructed by the science and technology ministry at the cost of Tk 335 crore.
The construction work started in April 2018. It is a dedicated rail line for transportation of cargo to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
As part of the project, a new rail station was constructed near Hardinge Bridge. Besides, a 26.52-km-long dual-gauge rail line was set up, including siding and loop line from Ishwardi by-pass station to Rooppur plant.
Read more: Bangladesh, Gambia agree on co-deployment of troops in UN peacekeeping
The 11km-long dual-gauge double-line from Tongi to Joydebpur will help railway authorities to increase the number of train trips on the Dhaka-Tongi-Joyebpur route, which links the entire west zone of Bangladesh Railway.
The second line was built at the cost of Tk 1,300 crore under an Indian-funded project.
The sections of 14km-long dual-gauge double-line on the Dhaka-Chattogram route are Kashba to Mandabagh and Shashidal to Rajapur.
The construction was done under a project funded by Asian Development Bank.
Bangladeshi children to be raised as global citizens: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government is going to introduce a fresh national curriculum from the next year to raise Bangladeshi children as global citizens.
“We look forward to raising our children as truly global citizens. We are introducing a new national curriculum from next year. It will prepare our students for the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” she said.
The premier said this in a pre-recorded video containing Bangladesh's national statement, played at the UN Secretary General's Transforming Education Summit on Monday here in New York.
She said the new curriculum will make them aware of becoming climate resilient. It will turn them into the real agents of our Vision- 2041 to become a developed, knowledge-based economy.
In higher education, Sheikh Hasina said, "We are giving priority to research and development. For technical education, we aim to have better industry linkages."
She said Bangladeshi children should have skills that they can use anywhere in the world.
Read: PM Hasina in New York to attend UNGA
"We need international cooperation for mutual recognition of qualifications .We commit to improve access to foundational and lifelong learning,” she said.
To promote multilingual education, the Prime Minister said they have developed text books in the mother tongue of some of our ethnic groups.
"We are offering education in Myanmar curriculum to millions of children forcibly displaced from Rakhine State and sheltered in our land," she said.
For quality and inclusive education, she said her government must invest in regular training and incentives for our teachers.
They are responsible for making classrooms a safe space for our children. We commit to increasing budget allocation for education in proportion to our GDP, she said.
The Prime Minister said the development partners of Bangladesh need to live up to their fiscal commitments for SDG-4.
She thanked the UN Secretary General for organising the Transforming Education Summit saying that this Summit marks a new way of thinking about education with future changes in the world of work.
"The COVID - 19 pandemic caused learning losses all over. In Bangladesh, we have enrolled six hundred thousand out - of - school students into non - formal education since December 2021," she said.
The premier said they have started vaccinating children above 5 years of age. "Nearly 23 million students from primary level to high education get stipends and scholarships," she added.
She said Bangladesh shall continue to provide cash incentives through mobile gateways to hard - pressed families. "Our successful programmes involving stipends, midday meals and free text book distribution will be carried on," she said.
The pandemic also opened up scope for innovations in distance learning, she said, adding that a Blended Education Master Plan has been developed in Bangladesh.
"We shall set up nearly 59,780 multimedia classrooms by next year. We shall put focus on reducing the digital divide among our students," she added.
She said Bangladesh has made significant gains in achieving gender parity in primary and secondary schools.
“We shall continue to work on reducing gender gaps in higher and technical education. Educating our girls has always been one of my key priorities,” said Sheikh Hasina.
Pakistani PM invites Hasina to visit Islamabad
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit his country as the two leaders met in London during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth ll.
“Pakistan prime minister several times invited our prime minister to visit Pakistan,” Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem reporters.
Read: Govt commits to strengthening social services workforce for protection of children
Bangladesh prime minister also briefly spoke with several world leaders, including Indian President Droupadi Murmu.
Hasina also held long discussion with former British prime minister David Cameron.
Cameron expresed interesr to visit Bangladesh, Muna said.
Commonwealth must keep Queen's memory alive: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said the Commonwealth must do something befitting for Queen Elizabeth II in remembrance of her dedicated service to the forum over the years.
She said this during her meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland at her place of residence.
According to a press release, the prime minister dubbed the late Queen as a ‘motherly figure’ and recalled her personal memories with the Queen.
The Commonwealth secretary general paid tribute to the Queen for her abiding commitment to the Commonwealth, and expressed her confidence that the legacy would be carried forward by King Charles III as the new Head of the Commonwealth.
The PM congratulated the secretary general on her re-election during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda in June this year.
Patricia Scotland lauded Hasina for her contributions to women’s empowerment, child development, mental health issues, combating climate change and countering violent extremism.
She once again appreciated the prime minister’s leadership in successfully managing the COVID-19 pandemic, and observed that those Commonwealth Member States had fared better during the crisis that had women in the lead or had women actively included in the management process.
Read: PM Hasina leaves Dhaka to attend 77th UNGA
PM Hasina responded positively to the Secretary General’s suggestion on highlighting the female leadership within the Commonwealth family on the occasion of the International Women’s Day. She also committed to partner with the Commonwealth to observe the “Year of Peace” and the “Year of Youth” through commemorative events next year.
The secretary general made a particular mention of Bangladesh’s work in nature conservation and disaster management, and invited the prime minister to demonstrate leaderhip in the Commonwealth’s “Living Lands” initiative. She also recalled Bangladesh’s lead engagement with the organisation’s “Blue Charter” initiative.
The Bangladesh PM underscored the importance of the Commonwealth’s economic development activities. She expressed satisfaction at the work being done on promoting business-to-business connectivity, with Bangladesh’s active footprint.
Among others, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Senior Secretary at Prime Minister’s Office Mohammed Tofazzel Hossain Miah, and Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem were present.
I’m impressed with the work: Hasina on soon-to-released Bangabandhu biopic
Prime Minister Sheik Hasina has said that she is happy with the progress in the production of “Mujib: The Making of a Nation”, a biopic based on the life and work of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“I’m impressed with whatever has been done so far,” she said on Wednesday in reply to a question on the biopic during a press conference on her recent India visit at her official residence Ganobhavan.
She said the trailer of the film had been launched at the 75th Cannes Festival in France in May this year. “The screening at the prestigious Cannes Festival speaks of the quality of the work so far. Had it not been a work of quality they would not have shown it,” she observed.
Read: BFDC reveals primary cast for biopic on Bangabandhu
She added: “We have to keep in mind that portrayal of a great leader Bangabandhu is no easy task for any actor. How can you portray bring to live the historic 7th March speech of Bangabandhu and the high emotion associated with it?”
Hasina, daughter of Bangabandhu, said she remains in touch with the making of the biopic and its production team led by noted Indian film director Shyam Benegal.
The Bangladesh part of the shooting of the biopic has been completed, she said hoping that the much-anticipated film, a joint venture of Bangladesh and India, would hit the movie houses soon.
Bangladesh and India launched the project to mark “Muijib Borso”, the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, in 2020 and it is expected to be released by end of this year.
In the biopic Bangladeshi actor Arifin Shuvoo has played the role of Bangabandhu, while it has featured other popular actors like Nusrat Faria Mazhar, Nusrat Imroz Tisha and Sabila Nur.
Mamata flays Modi govt for not inviting her to meet Hasina
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has come down heavily on the federal government for "not inviting" her to meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the latter's four-day state visit to India.
"I share an excellent relationship with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, but (the Indian government) did not invite me to be a part of her visit,” Mamata said, addressing her supporters at a meeting of the state's Trinamool Congress in Kolkata on Thursday.
“I don’t want to talk about external affairs or bilateral ties. But, I have noticed that the Centre (the federal government) tries to stop me whenever I am invited to any foreign country. I want to know why is the Union government so worried about me meeting foreign dignitaries,” Manata said.
Read: Mamata sacks tainted Bengal Minister over school jobs scam
Hasina wrapped up her state visit to India on Thursday, with a visit to the Dargah of the revered Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti in the town of Ajmer, some 350kms from the national capital.
The Bangladesh PM had also regretted not having met Mamata during her India visit. "Mamata is like my sister. I can meet her whenever I want. We always have a good relationship," she told the media at a dinner reception in Bangladesh High Commission.
Hasina-Modi talks underway at Delhi’s Hyderabad House
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi are holding bilateral talks at Hyderabad House in the Indian capital as the two countries seek enhanced cooperation.
The delegation level talks will be followed by signing of several instruments between the two countries.
Issues related to security cooperation, investment, enhanced trade relations, power and energy sector cooperation, water sharing of common rivers, water resources management, border management, combating drug smuggling an human trafficking will get priority during the talks between PM Hasina and her Indian counterpart Modi, officials said.
Read: PM Hasina pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat
Bangladesh and India are likely to sign seven MoUs on water management, railway, science and technology, and information and broadcasting.
PM Hasina and Modi had a one-to-one meeting before the delegation level talks.
After his meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the "warmth and frequency" of their leadership level contacts is a testimony to their close neighborly partnership.
India says the visit will mark a "new chapter" in the ever deepening Indo-Bangladesh ties under the astute leadership of PM Hasina and her counterpart Narendra Modi.
Read: PM Hasina accorded warm reception by Modi at Delhi’s Rashtrapati Bhavan
Foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen said purchasing surplus fuel from India will be discussed today (September 6, 2022).
“We can get India’s surplus fuel, under favorable terms. We will, of course, consider that,” Masud said while speaking to reporters after Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.